Buckle.



' J'. c. BOWERSE I Patented Dec. 6, 1910.

WM/W W JOHN C. BOWERS, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

BUCKLE.

Specificationof Letters Patent.

Application filed August 10, 1909.

Patented Dec. 6, 1910. Serial No. 512,243.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN C. Bownns, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Spokane, in the county of Spokane and State of Washington, have in vented new and useful Improvements 1n Buckles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to buckles, and one of the principal objects of the same is to provide a buckle of simple construction which can be readily used either as a belt buckle or as a safety pin for securing garments together or for other purposes.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a convertible buckle and safety pin of simple construction which can be quickly operated and which will reliably hold.

two ends of a strap or band together and which can be readily disconnected from the strap or band and used as a safety pin for securing a shirt waist to a skirt or for securing the trousers and under-garments together.

These and other objects may be attained by means of the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a buckle made in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse section. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective View of the tongue or pin.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates the body portion of the buckle having oppositely arranged side members 2 providing an interior passageway or space 3. The top 4: of the buckle frame may comprise a separate piece secured to the frame, said top being provided with a longitudinal slot 5. The back of the buckle frame is provided with a longitudinal groove 6 having a central opening 7 which is disposed in alinement with the slot 5 in the top 1. A transversely disposed spring 8 extends across from side to side of the buckle frame within the space 7. A lever 9 is pivoted upon a pintle 10 journaled in the buckle frame immediately under the spring 8, the end of said lever being rounded to bear upon said spring to hold the lever in the groove 6 with its outer end extending slightly beyond the buckle frame. The curved tongue or pin consists of a flattened shank 11 secured to space 7.

As shown in Fig. 4, the lever 9 is formed of a hollow tube flattened after the flat shank 11" has been inserted within the tube through an opening 14:. A hole 15 is formed in the tube for the pintle 10.

The operation of my invention may be briefly described as follows :When the lever 9 is swung from one side or end of the groove 6 to the other the curved portion 12 of the tongue or pin is moved in a circular path through the slot 5, the spring 8 bearing upon the end of said lever holding it in adjusted position.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that a belt or band can be inserted in the space 3 and connected by means of the curved portion 12 of the pin. The buckle can be readily detached from the belt and used as a safety pin.

I claim In a device for the purpose set forth, a body member provided with a longitudinally extending passageway the top of the body being provided with a slot communicating with the passageway, the lower portion of the body being provided with a reduced longitudinally extending groove and an opening communicating with the passageway, a flattened transversely arranged spring connected with the walls of the open ing directly below the lower horizontal wall of the passageway, a tubular flattened lever having one of its extremities pivoted directly beneath the spring and its opposite end projecting through the longitudinal groove of the member, and a curved pin having a flattened shank received in the lever and adapted to normally have its body projecting above the top of the body member of the device and its pointed portion extended within the slot and opening provided in the body member.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN C. BOWERS.

Witnesses:

C. E. COTHLIN, CHAS. M. Bownns. 

